Moving Supplies Checklist: Everything You Need to Buy Before Moving States
Don't show up to your move missing tape, bubble wrap, or the toothbrush you packed on day one. Here is the complete moving supplies checklist, what to buy, what to skip, and what to pack last.
RelocateRight
Staff Writer
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Moving supplies checklist: stop guessing, start packing
You took not enough boxes. You packed your toothbrush on day three and spent a week digging through boxes to find it. You forgot tape and made three trips to Target. The movers showed up and half your stuff was still sitting in piles.
If any of this sounds familiar, or if you are trying to avoid it happening, you are in the right place. This checklist was put together after writing about relocation for years and hearing the same moving mistakes over and over again.
Here is everything you actually need to buy before moving states, in the order you need it.
The mistake almost everyone makes
People start packing weeks early, feel productive, and then spend the final days before the move frantically unpacking boxes to find things they need every day. The razor. The phone charger. A single pair of clean socks.
The fix is simple: before you tape up a single box, pack a "last night bag", a separate bag or backpack with everything you need to function for 48 hours after the move. This bag never goes on the truck. It travels with you.
What goes in your last night bag:
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, deodorant, any daily medications
- Shampoo and conditioner (travel size)
- 2-3 days of clothes including underwear and socks
- Phone charger and any other essential cables
- Your wallet, passport, and important documents
- Snacks and a water bottle
- Earbuds or headphones
- Basic first aid: pain reliever, bandaids
Pack this bag first. Set it aside. Do not touch it until you are at your destination.
What to buy for moving: the complete checklist
Boxes and containers
Moving boxes are the foundation of everything. Buy more than you think you need, the standard advice is to estimate your number and add 30%. Running out of boxes on moving day is a disaster.
- Small boxes (1.5 cu ft): heavy items like books, dishes, canned goods
- Medium boxes (3 cu ft): most household items, clothes, kitchen items
- Large boxes (4.5 cu ft): pillows, bedding, light bulbs, lamp shades
- Extra-large boxes (6 cu ft): comforters, stuffed animals, light items only
Pro tip: Liquor stores, bookstores, and grocery stores give away free boxes. Ask staff when their next delivery comes in and show up the same day. You can cut your box budget significantly.
Wardrobe boxes are worth it for clothes you do not want to fold and re-hang. They come with a built-in hanging bar. Buy 2-3 and thank yourself later.
Packing materials
Packing tape, buy more than you think you need. A cheap dispenser gun makes the process dramatically faster and easier. Get the reinforced variety for heavy boxes.
Packing tape with dispenser on Amazon →
Bubble wrap for anything fragile: dishes, glasses, picture frames, electronics. Roll individual items before boxing them. A single sheet of bubble wrap can save a wine glass.
Packing paper (unprinted newsprint) for filling empty space in boxes and wrapping less delicate items. Cheaper than bubble wrap and useful for everything.
Foam peanuts or air pillows for extra cushioning around fragile items in larger boxes.
Organization supplies
Colored markers, at least 3-4 different colors. Use one color per room. When everything comes off the truck, you know instantly where each box goes.
Sticker labels or self-adhesive labels for writing room names and contents on every box. Write on the side of the box, not the top, boxes get stacked and you cannot see the top.
"Fragile" stickers, bright red or orange. Movers do treat boxes labeled fragile differently. Worth the $3.
Ziplock bags in multiple sizes, invaluable for keeping screws, bolts, and hardware together when disassembling furniture. Tape the ziplock to the furniture piece it belongs to.
Furniture and appliance protection
Mattress bags, essential. A mattress on a truck without a cover will arrive dirty or damaged. Buy the right size for your mattress.
Furniture blankets / moving pads, if you are renting a truck, most companies include pads. If not, they can be rented. Essential for protecting sofas, dressers, and tables from scratches.
Stretch wrap / plastic wrap, wrap furniture drawers, cabinet doors, and anything with parts that can open during the move. Also good for bundling items together.
Corner protectors for large furniture with sharp corners.
Travel extras (the things people forget)
Luggage tag or bright ribbon for your suitcase, if you are flying to your new state and checking luggage, a distinctive tag or ribbon on your bag handle makes it immediately identifiable at the baggage carousel. Bright red or orange ribbon tied around the handle costs nothing and saves time every trip.
Neck pillow if you are doing a long drive or flight to your new state. A 12-hour drive without one is a long 12 hours.
Travel neck pillow on Amazon →
Portable power bank, on moving day your phone is your map, your communication line, and your sanity. Keep it charged. A power bank means you are not hunting for outlets on the truck.
Tools and hardware
Basic tool kit, minimum: a box cutter, a screwdriver set (flathead and Phillips), and a hammer. You will need these on both ends of the move for disassembly and reassembly.
Box cutter or utility knife, for opening boxes efficiently at the destination. Do not rip tape off with your hands for 200 boxes.
Furniture sliders, small plastic discs that go under furniture legs to slide heavy pieces across floors without scratching. Enormously useful when positioning furniture in a new space.
Cleaning supplies (buy before the move, use at both ends)
Pack a small cleaning kit in your last night bag or a separate accessible bag:
- Multi-surface cleaner spray
- Paper towels
- Trash bags (large), you will fill many of these on moving day
- Rubber gloves
You will need to clean your old place before leaving and your new place before unpacking. Having supplies immediately accessible saves a trip to the store on one of the most chaotic days of the year.
What you do NOT need to buy
Specialty "moving kits" from big box stores, these are marked up significantly. Buy the individual components and you will spend less.
New wardrobe boxes for everything, for folded clothes, regular large boxes work fine. Wardrobe boxes are only worth it for hanging clothes.
Packing paper from the moving supply store, unprinted newsprint is cheaper. Old newspaper works but can transfer ink.
More tape guns than you have people packing, one per person is enough.
The full checklist at a glance
Boxes:
- Small, medium, large, and extra-large moving boxes
- Wardrobe boxes (optional)
Packing materials:
- Packing tape with dispenser
- Bubble wrap
- Packing paper
- Foam peanuts or air pillows
Organization:
- Colored markers (multiple colors)
- Box labels or stickers
- "Fragile" stickers
- Ziplock bags (assorted sizes)
Protection:
- Mattress bags
- Stretch/plastic wrap
- Furniture corner protectors
Travel:
- Last night bag with essentials
- Bright luggage tag or ribbon
- Neck pillow for long drives
- Portable power bank
Tools:
- Box cutter
- Screwdriver set
- Hammer
- Furniture sliders
Cleaning:
- Multi-surface cleaner
- Paper towels
- Trash bags
- Rubber gloves
Want this as a printable checklist?
We put together a one-page PDF version of this checklist that you can print out and work through on moving day. It includes the packing timeline, the last night bag list, and a room-by-room box tracker.
Download the RelocateRight Moving Checklist, $4.99
Print it once. Use it every move.
If you are still figuring out where you are moving to, our guides to the best states to move to from California, moving from Florida to Texas, and how to move to another state with no money can help with the bigger decision.